Tuesday update

The defense the Wizards played against the Hawks last night isn't going to get it done. Buckets came way to easy for Mike Bibby and crew and it seemed as though the Wizards thought they could just clamp down and win in the fourth quarter becuase the Hawks are the same old Hawks sort of how the Clippers pulled a Clippers the other night.

The difference was that Atlanta has two guys who can rip your heart out now: Bibby and all star Joe Johnson and they did it last night. Things are getting crazy in the East. Toronto's loss last night means that the Wiz are only one half game out of fifth but Philly's hot streak means they are only one half game away from dropping to seventh.

Well, it didn't take long for the Gilbert Arenas free agency rumors to start flying did it? A Pro Basketball New reports says that the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers plan to "pursue" Arenas this summer.
Really? I have news for you folks: every team in the league will "pursue" Arenas if by "pursue" you mean picking up the phone, calling Ernie Grunfeld and asking: "Hey, Ernie, just out of curiosity, what would it take?" In fact, I can guarantee you that those conversations took place last summer.
What, you think Ernie goes to summer league and chats with all of those other general managers about the weather? The moment Gilbert said he planned on opting out, Ernie started taking phone calls. That's how the business works.

From where I sit, Gilbert's future will hinge on a few factors:
1. None of us has any idea of the price tag Ernie Grunfeld, Abe Pollin and the organization has placed on Arenas. We know he wants a max deal but that doesn't mean the team is going to give him one just to give him one, especially if he doesn't come back looking something like the old Gilbert this season. The market factors into this as well. Neither the Lakers nor the Clippers will have the kind of cash to just make the guy a huge offer. Almost no other teams will either and as Gilbert has said before: "I ain't going to no bottom feeder."

2. If Ernie offers less than the max and stands firm, will Gilbert be insulted like his boy Larry Hughes and bail?

3. If the sides can't reach an agreement, what exactly are Ernie's options with a sign-and-trade? Those deals can be tricky to pull off and it would take a package of players in return that would move the Wizards closer to being a contender. This is particularly true if Ernie retains Antawn Jamison, who keeps adding to his price with one solid performance after another.

I'll stick with my previous gut feeling that Arenas will be back in Wiz uniform next season but getting to the point where that becomes official could be rocky. Rumors are going to be flying like crazy. I'll do my best to sort out fact from fiction.

-As I reported in my game story this morning, Caron Butler has a chipped bone in his left wrist, the result of a tough fall he took while making a layup during Thursday's win over Cleveland. Butler told me that it won't require surgery and that he can play with it. However, in the last two games, it's clearly been a problem. He's had trouble dribbling with his left hand and gripping the basketball has been an issue as well.
Caron: "Some of the things I'm used to doing out there I can't do right now because everything I'm doing is right-handed, but there are no excuses. I just have to go out there and play hard and develop a rhythm with the new style I'm trying to play with. A couple of more games, I should be back to normal."
"More tape and more padding and it should be good. Just wrap me up and let's go play."
He also had a funny line about Mrs. Tough Juice: "When I get home, that's what my wife is for, making me feel good about myself."

-Antonio Daniels has a left wrist issue as well and it's not getting any better.
"It is what it is," Daniels said. "If you can play, you go out and play. You do what you have to do to help the team win basketball games. My left wrist is messed up. Caron's left wrist is messed up. It comes with the territory. We've been bumped and bruised all season. I'm not going to sit in front of you guys and make excuses That's not the way we've been all season and that's not the way I am as an individual."

More Daniels and this quote was interesting: "It's crunch time so, guys have been bumped and bruised all year and we have to tough it out. Our team needs us right now and sometimes you have to put yourself aside as an individual to do what is best for us as a team."

-In a move that surprised me having covered this team for three seasons now, Jordan said he is implementing a curfew for the two-game trip that starts tomorrow night at Orlando and ends Friday night in Miami. Eddie's never does this before but hey, every game is huge right?

"It could be a shot in the dark," Jordan said. " I could be totally wrong and we go and get blown out by 30 (at Orlando) but I think just so that they know that we (the coaching staff) mean business, they should mean business. We have an opportunity to get a great win at Orlando and finish the trip in Miami. We've all been around the league long enough to know what kind of trap a trip like this could be (South Beach anyone?)."

For the record: I'm under no curfew.

-If you read my blog post yesterday with the Gilbert interview and remain utterly confused about his playing status for this season, welcome to my world. I've spoken with him about this several times now and I have no idea what is going to happen.
He could be back this week or not at all. He's concerned about the getting injured again but is eager to get back out there and help his team. He wants assurances from the Wizards that he'll be taken care of regardless of what happens this season but at the same time, he understands that "what is said doesn't matter because it's not on paper."

To me, this whole thing is summarized best by the conversation we had on Sunday. At the end of a long chat, I asked him: "So, in your gut, when do you think you will play again?

Gilbert's answer after a pause: "I don't know. We'll see what the doctors say (yesterday after the MRI results came back) and go from there."

"He also had a funny line about Mrs. Tough Juice: "When I get home, that's what my wife is for, making me feel good about myself.""

Well, that's just great for Caron.

For others (no name mentioned), when they get home, they see the house being a mess, kids writing on the walls, diapers unchanged, food everywhere, grotto unclean, etc.

It's too bad some can't get that kind of luv that Mrs. Tough Juice provides, but then again, you have to provide the missus some security first, not kick her to the curb, complain that the house is dirty, and make her serve you with papers at a game.

Man this Gilbert stuff is getting "OLD"....!! Ivan can you please start up another blog with the subject not being Gilbert. How many times can you beat a dead horse!!!!

Can the conversation please return back to the game last night, or what is going on with AB, how "hurt" is CB for real, Ted Leonis and his status with Abe, does the coaching staff deserve extended contracts, Eddie's and Ernie's working relationship, is Hoopla signed only for one year or more, etc., etc.,.....

There is more to blog about then Gilbert, Gilbert, Gilbert........!!!! Wait for the end of the season, see if he opts out and then we can talk about it. As for now, everything is "what if's", so why are we still talking about it.....?????

Posted by: Bullets Fever #1 | March 18, 2008 12:47 PM

Thanks for the "other" updates Ivan. Sorry, but I am tired of all of the Gilbert scenarios. He is my boy and without him and Eddie the Wiz would still be "sorry". With that said, right now he is not a max player. He is a tier under that.

He gives the Wiz star power but after two knee operations and his game being drivng to the rack he might not be the same player he was, thus meaning not being a max player. That my thoughts on it and I am done commenting on him until the summer comes up and he opts out.......

You don't think someone like Gilby can revitalize the Clippers? He helped do the same for the Clippers of the East, Les BouleS.

Posted by: DC Man88 | March 18, 2008 11:20 AM

HIM TROLLY TROLL SAY GILBERT DO GOOD FOR WIZARDS. WHY BEFORE TROLLY TROLL SAY GILBERT NO GOOD BUT NOW HE GOOD. TROLLY TROLL TALK NOBODY UNDERSTAND. HE SAY CHASY MAGADY GOOD WHEN HOUSTON WIN GAME TWO MUCH BUT HE MAYBE NO LIKE CHASY MAGADY WHO DO NUTING HE ONLY SHOOT AND SHOOT. TROLLY TROLL LIKE GILBERT BUT SAY HE NO LIKE GILBERT BUT HE LIKE GILBERT. IF HE NO LIKE GILBERT WHY HE SAY GILBERT DO GOOD FOR THE TEAM WHEN HE COME HERE

"Hey Me F.O.B - You are trying to read his posts using logic and facts.

Instead, do like GM says, disconnect your brain, and then read 88's comments - they make sense that way.

Posted by: | March 18, 2008 01:21 PM "

LOL!

Helping your franchise just like the rest of your teammates doesn't mean you deserve max money. Gilby certainly doesn't get any credit for being the only reason.

BTW, GM don't got no brain, so he doesn't need to go through the trouble to disconnect. Remember, he's a stock boy in a hard ware store. He's making the bags of ice melt look good and coordinated on the shelves.

Thanks for the "other" updates Ivan. Sorry, but I am tired of all of the Gilbert scenarios. He is my boy and without him and Eddie the Wiz would still be "sorry". With that said, right now he is not a max player. He is a tier under that.

He gives the Wiz star power but after two knee operations and his game being drivng to the rack he might not be the same player he was, thus meaning not being a max player. That my thoughts on it and I am done commenting on him until the summer comes up and he opts out.......

Posted by: Bullets Fever #1 | March 18, 2008 12:59 PM

MAYBE GILBERT NO PLAY THIS YEAR HE TWO HURT AND NO RUN FAST LIKE BEFORE. HE WANT MORE MONEY BUT HE MAYBE MUST PLAY OR NOONE CAN GIVE HIM MONEY. HE WANT TO PLAY BUT HE GET HURT AND LOSE TWO MUCH MONEY HE WANT TO BE SAFE AND MAKE SURE HE NO GET HURT AGAIN. I THINK HE PLAY NEXT WEEK BUT HE DONT TELL NOONE. HE LIKE HIS TEAM AND HIS TEAM LIKE HIM HE NEED THE TEAM TOO BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO PLAY WITH HIM AND HAVE FUN. GILBERT ONLY WANT TO PLAY BASKETBALL NOW BUT HIS KNEE HURT TWO MUCH.

HIM TROLLY TROLL SAY GM GOTS JOB. I GOTS JOB TOO. GOOD JOB HELPS PEEPL AT GOODWILL STORE IS MINE. BUT TROLLY TROLL NO JOB HE HAS NONE. HE HAVE NO TIME JOB TO DO. TROLLY TROLL TOO BUSY HIM OTHER TALKING ON WORDS PUTER.

The hesitancy from Gil is normal, two knee surgeries, especially when your game is built on speed.

The killer is that he did this to himself and now we see our guys fighting and staying afloat w/o him and only imagine how well we'll play when he gets back. Trust me, the team is thinking the exact same thing, from the Cap'n 'Twan to Etan.

Ivan's got a great point that the organization probably has an internal value placed on him and hold the keys if he wants to get paid. However, that's not the issue, at least not now, come July it will be.

The issue now is how close to he to playing? We should find out around tomorrow after some full speed practices where he doesn't hold anything back. He'll need to see how the knee responds. If the team welcomes him back, so will I.

"HIM TROLLY TROLL SAY GM GOTS JOB. I GOTS JOB TOO. GOOD JOB HELPS PEEPL AT GOODWILL STORE IS MINE. BUT TROLLY TROLL NO JOB HE HAS NONE. HE HAVE NO TIME JOB TO DO. TROLLY TROLL TOO BUSY HIM OTHER TALKING ON WORDS PUTER.

I'd like to see EG (currently President and GM) give his GM title to EJ after the season (to negotiate with AJ and GA).

I'd also like to see Randy Ayers promoted to head coach.

Finally, I think the reporters and cheerleaders and coaches all should under the same curfew rules.

BTW, everybody on this team can carry his own weight (that is, there may be inconsistent play at times, but there are no guaranteed stinkers any more). And Gilbert will need only 5-10 games of limited action prior to the playoffs to be ready to rule.

I know Caron wants to be out there, but couldn't a week off help his knee and wrist. I guess the other injuries won't get any better, but good God him having to have so much ice after a game. EJ has to limit his minutes, this is ridiculous.

Here's a little game I like to play. Imagine who the source might possibly have been on this one. "A high ranking Western Conference executive." We'll assume for a moment that this really is referring to be someone with an NBA team, as opposed to say, the Executive VP of Sales for a Portland car dealership (Portland, after all, being a city in the Western Conference, and Executive VP of sales being very high ranking at that dealership). So whom could it be? He has intimate knowledge of both the Lakers AND the Clippers off-season plans! If it were a Clippers' executive, why would he know what the Lakers were planning? If he works for the Lakers, how would he know about the Clippers? Furthermore, if he worked for either one of them, would it really be in his interest to leak their plans? So maybe he works for a third team. But if that were the case, why would he know about either of them?

"Knowledge of the situation" - Well, let's face it, that could mean anything. Knowledge of the situation in this case probably doesn't mean anything more than knowing that Arenas is possibly a free agent this summer. That qualifies as "knowledge of the situation." And everyone knows that.

So, I'm dubious to say the least about this "Western Conference Executive with knowledge of the situation." It's hard to imagine who this person could possibly be, and harder still to imagine why he would want to talk to anyone about this.

But, fine, let's play along. Let's look at the content of the rumor.

The Lakers are going to pursue Gilbert Arenas. REALLY?

Despite what was said this summer about him, Mitch Kupchak is not stupid. With Kobe Bryant signed to a maximum contract, and Pau Gasol signed to a maximum contract, and Andrew Bynum due for a maximum extension in 2009, the Lakers would be stupid to consider Gilbert Arenas this summer. Arenas is clearly going to want a maximum deal, and even if he might not get that, he's likely to get a near max deal. And that will be for 5 or 6 seasons. Jerry Buss's pockets are deep, and he might even consider doing that if it was a no brainer from a basketball standpoint (as was the case with Pau). But it's not a no-brainer - not at all. Pau fit the triangle perfectly, and is more than willing to be the second fiddle in LA. Agent Zero? And the Black Mamba? In the same backcourt? I don't think I would consider that in an All Star game - forget about an 82 game season. The chemistry on the Lakers after the Pau trade is about as good as you can get. The Lakers need their point guards to play good defense and make open shots. Derek Fisher does both of those things. Gilbert Arenas only does one of them. This makes no sense for the Lakers.

As for the other LA team, well Arenas does make sense for the Clippers. He's charismatic, he's a great scorer, and he's from LA. The fact that he turned down the Clippers' better offer 4 years ago when he signed with the Wizards makes me think it's unlikely that he'd want to play here now, but it still makes sense for the Clippers to think about it.

But back to that source: The Clippers "would be willing to trade the entire team if it meant pairing Arenas with Elton Brand." If the source doesn't work for the Clippers, how would he know this? And if he does work for the Clippers, why in the world would he say it? Did a Clippers executive just offer Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, Shaun Livingston and a lottery pick for Gilbert Arenas?

Look, I'm all for some sort of double sign and trade where the Clippers send Maggette and something else to the Wizards for Agent Zero. I'm not sure why the Wizards would want to do that when their two best players are basically small forwards, but it would be a great deal for the Clippers.

Here's a little game I like to play. Imagine who the source might possibly have been on this one. "A high ranking Western Conference executive." We'll assume for a moment that this really is referring to be someone with an NBA team, as opposed to say, the Executive VP of Sales for a Portland car dealership (Portland, after all, being a city in the Western Conference, and Executive VP of sales being very high ranking at that dealership). So whom could it be? He has intimate knowledge of both the Lakers AND the Clippers off-season plans! If it were a Clippers' executive, why would he know what the Lakers were planning? If he works for the Lakers, how would he know about the Clippers? Furthermore, if he worked for either one of them, would it really be in his interest to leak their plans? So maybe he works for a third team. But if that were the case, why would he know about either of them?

"Knowledge of the situation" - Well, let's face it, that could mean anything. Knowledge of the situation in this case probably doesn't mean anything more than knowing that Arenas is possibly a free agent this summer. That qualifies as "knowledge of the situation." And everyone knows that.

So, I'm dubious to say the least about this "Western Conference Executive with knowledge of the situation." It's hard to imagine who this person could possibly be, and harder still to imagine why he would want to talk to anyone about this.

But, fine, let's play along. Let's look at the content of the rumor.

The Lakers are going to pursue Gilbert Arenas. REALLY?

Despite what was said this summer about him, Mitch Kupchak is not stupid. With Kobe Bryant signed to a maximum contract, and Pau Gasol signed to a maximum contract, and Andrew Bynum due for a maximum extension in 2009, the Lakers would be stupid to consider Gilbert Arenas this summer. Arenas is clearly going to want a maximum deal, and even if he might not get that, he's likely to get a near max deal. And that will be for 5 or 6 seasons. Jerry Buss's pockets are deep, and he might even consider doing that if it was a no brainer from a basketball standpoint (as was the case with Pau). But it's not a no-brainer - not at all. Pau fit the triangle perfectly, and is more than willing to be the second fiddle in LA. Agent Zero? And the Black Mamba? In the same backcourt? I don't think I would consider that in an All Star game - forget about an 82 game season. The chemistry on the Lakers after the Pau trade is about as good as you can get. The Lakers need their point guards to play good defense and make open shots. Derek Fisher does both of those things. Gilbert Arenas only does one of them. This makes no sense for the Lakers.

As for the other LA team, well Arenas does make sense for the Clippers. He's charismatic, he's a great scorer, and he's from LA. The fact that he turned down the Clippers' better offer 4 years ago when he signed with the Wizards makes me think it's unlikely that he'd want to play here now, but it still makes sense for the Clippers to think about it.

But back to that source: The Clippers "would be willing to trade the entire team if it meant pairing Arenas with Elton Brand." If the source doesn't work for the Clippers, how would he know this? And if he does work for the Clippers, why in the world would he say it? Did a Clippers executive just offer Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, Shaun Livingston and a lottery pick for Gilbert Arenas?

Look, I'm all for some sort of double sign and trade where the Clippers send Maggette and something else to the Wizards for Agent Zero. I'm not sure why the Wizards would want to do that when their two best players are basically small forwards, but it would be a great deal for the Clippers.

Here's a little game I like to play. Imagine who the source might possibly have been on this one. "A high ranking Western Conference executive." We'll assume for a moment that this really is referring to be someone with an NBA team, as opposed to say, the Executive VP of Sales for a Portland car dealership (Portland, after all, being a city in the Western Conference, and Executive VP of sales being very high ranking at that dealership). So whom could it be? He has intimate knowledge of both the Lakers AND the Clippers off-season plans! If it were a Clippers' executive, why would he know what the Lakers were planning? If he works for the Lakers, how would he know about the Clippers? Furthermore, if he worked for either one of them, would it really be in his interest to leak their plans? So maybe he works for a third team. But if that were the case, why would he know about either of them?

"Knowledge of the situation" - Well, let's face it, that could mean anything. Knowledge of the situation in this case probably doesn't mean anything more than knowing that Arenas is possibly a free agent this summer. That qualifies as "knowledge of the situation." And everyone knows that.

So, I'm dubious to say the least about this "Western Conference Executive with knowledge of the situation." It's hard to imagine who this person could possibly be, and harder still to imagine why he would want to talk to anyone about this.

But, fine, let's play along. Let's look at the content of the rumor.

The Lakers are going to pursue Gilbert Arenas. REALLY?

Despite what was said this summer about him, Mitch Kupchak is not stupid. With Kobe Bryant signed to a maximum contract, and Pau Gasol signed to a maximum contract, and Andrew Bynum due for a maximum extension in 2009, the Lakers would be stupid to consider Gilbert Arenas this summer. Arenas is clearly going to want a maximum deal, and even if he might not get that, he's likely to get a near max deal. And that will be for 5 or 6 seasons. Jerry Buss's pockets are deep, and he might even consider doing that if it was a no brainer from a basketball standpoint (as was the case with Pau). But it's not a no-brainer - not at all. Pau fit the triangle perfectly, and is more than willing to be the second fiddle in LA. Agent Zero? And the Black Mamba? In the same backcourt? I don't think I would consider that in an All Star game - forget about an 82 game season. The chemistry on the Lakers after the Pau trade is about as good as you can get. The Lakers need their point guards to play good defense and make open shots. Derek Fisher does both of those things. Gilbert Arenas only does one of them. This makes no sense for the Lakers.

As for the other LA team, well Arenas does make sense for the Clippers. He's charismatic, he's a great scorer, and he's from LA. The fact that he turned down the Clippers' better offer 4 years ago when he signed with the Wizards makes me think it's unlikely that he'd want to play here now, but it still makes sense for the Clippers to think about it.

But back to that source: The Clippers "would be willing to trade the entire team if it meant pairing Arenas with Elton Brand." If the source doesn't work for the Clippers, how would he know this? And if he does work for the Clippers, why in the world would he say it? Did a Clippers executive just offer Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, Shaun Livingston and a lottery pick for Gilbert Arenas?

Look, I'm all for some sort of double sign and trade where the Clippers send Maggette and something else to the Wizards for Agent Zero. I'm not sure why the Wizards would want to do that when their two best players are basically small forwards, but it would be a great deal for the Clippers.

People can get on this blog and blast me all they want, but it doesn't change the fact that Gilby is holding this franchise hostage and is putting his concerns above the team's even though he's getting paid 12 mil to play basketball.

Also, blast me all you want, but it won't erase the fact that Gilby missed 3 free throws that cost the team.

You can believe the lie about me losing $7K in a bet, but it doesn't matter, b/c it never happened, and even if it did, Gilby still lost the game.

"Blogorrhea"... Great word there, Khrabb. Lots of it spraying around this board.

Anon and Rook, thanks for bringing the discussion back to basketball.

Ivan was too diplomatic, but I can't help but think AD's comment about selfishness and the team was about Gil... I'm not sure it's a fair comment -- Gil shouldn't have come back too early the first time and shouldn't rush it this time either -- but I can't imagine who else he was talking about. Couldn't have been Caron or Etan. I wonder what the guys in the locker room are thinking about Gil these days, beyond the short-term need to have guns in hand for the playoffs. Could be the team has realized how good they can be without Gil and are getting tired of his self-centered rap.

AB is definitely in the doghouse, and it looks like he deserves it. The guy is playing uninspired ball the past few weeks. You can cruise on potential only for so long. We cruised too long with Kwame. When does Ernie decide to cut bait on this kid? Maybe in a package with a sign-and-traded Gil? Should be an interesting offseason.

We needed to see more of D-Mac last night. He would have put an end to that little stretch of second-chance points off of the Hawks' offensive rebounds.

I love Gil but if he had a brain he would not opt out at this point. Make your 12.5 mil next year and prove that your healthy. If you can do that you will get a max deal. If he opts out this year there is a good chance no team will offer him the max.

I don't think AD's remarks were directed towards GA holding the team hostage, but more of a motivator to get him back on the court ASAP (once the doctors okay him.) CB should take off the 2 games this week on the road trip to be ready for Detroit and the West coast trip. Little to no chance of beating Orlando on the road and they'll beat Miami regardless of whether CB plays.

Wiz front office are likely aware the AJ, CB, and AD are tiring of the attention focused on GA's recovery. If he's healthy enough to play, he'll play because he's loyal to Eddie and wants to help the team. He can forget a max contract from the Wiz if he doesn't come back healthy at some point this season. Hope he realizes the grass isn't always greener after seeing how things worked out for his buddy Larry Hughes! The rest of us can only wish we had a $12.8M OPTION to return to our employer next year as GA has under his current deal.

Prazak, considering AB didn't play much at all the last cople of years for various reasons, I think he deserves a break. This is actually kinda like his rookie year and he's showing the same inconsistency that NY and others are showing. I hate giving up on guys too early but we DID stick with Kwame too long for sure. AB is playing out of position at the 5. He's actually more of a 3 but doesn't have the range yet. he belongs at the 4 at this point of his career. Not to compare the two, but KG would be less effective playing center, too. Lets's give him a consistent 12 minutes and let him develop a flow or rhythm to his game and define what he wants to do. I think part of the problem is that he doesn't know what position he should be playing.

Not sure I understand why people say hearing about Arenas is getting "OLD". He is the final piece of the puzzle -- maybe people are tired of hearing wait and see but sometimes that is the most accurate answer. Also Ivan provided updates on many fronts so not sure about the criticism. Everyone has been anxious for the return of Caron and Arenas -- we have Caron back and now we want Arenas to play. Arenas has to weigh the risks and the rewards of playing -- Count me among those who hopes he returns -- my guess is the Verizon Center shares that wish since it will add some electricity to a building that only appears to have any life if a high caliber opponent is in the building -- the fans don't come out just to watch the Wiz, that is very disappointing.

Rarely agree with DC Man88, but EJ rewards players by giving them minutes. DSong was riding the pine when AB was playing well as a starter when Caron was hurt. AB's inconsistency and dumb plays hurt the team while DSong is fundamentally sound and is playing great ball the last few weeks.

As far as the curfew, EJ's possibly had some off the court issues with AB, NY, and others that he didn't want to risk on a road trip where we need a win. Good for EJ to treat this like a 'business' trip which is the way it should be anyways.

I think Gilbert gets enough press/media here...this is where the Agent O and Hibachi started. However, if he wants to do the reality show and all, the west coast may be better for that. But if you think of it, DC is just a stones through from NYC also. As for the injury, he's following the doctors orders which have only given him the go ahead to practice only.

Good point Mark. AB does play out of position and should be at the 4. And this is really only his second season, effectively, with no college experience after high school. I'm not ready to give up on him just yet, and he's one of Ernie's pet projects, so I suspect we won't see him bundled up and traded anytime soon.

What worries me, though, is AB's lack of focus and effort. Plenty of guys are playing out of position -- Al Horford last night is a good example, and a rookie example at that (albeit with elite college experience under his belt). But even other Wiz players like Ruffin last year or Songaila this year have plaid out of position and yet played their hardest night in, night out, even while lacking the natural skills that AB has in spades. Roger Mason is playing point guard, for chriessakes, and doing a pretty good job of it. Playing out of position is not an excuse for lack of intensity and focus.

If anyone on this team should be out proving himself right now (besides Gil wanting to prove himself worth a max contract...) it should be Blatche, who p*ssed away his first year, moped around his second year, and began Year 3 with a well-publicized arrest that tarnished his reputation and, at least in Abe's eyes, the franchise. With the Kwame debacle fresh in our minds AB ought to want to prove himself sooner than later, lest he develop the reputation of another underachieving backup in this league.

Of course AD's comments were aimed right at GA. Mine would be if I were on the team. The Dr's tell him he is healed, then he should play. It is a team game. He has been told he has no more risk of getting now vs. any other time in the future. So shut up and play already idiot. Your teammates can't make it any clearer that they need and want you to play. Now. If Eddie had any balls he would make a similar comment to what AD said. AJ and CB should speak up too. I can this team about to spiral out of control and lose 10 in a row...

I know Mark had a knee surgery from his comments. I know mine took about a year before I quit thinking about it when I went to do something. And hell, I only stock shelves and sweep the floors in a hardware store, I can't imagine how long long it would take to go out on a court and actually bust a move...

88 misses me when I'm gone,can't seem to go more then a few hours without including me in a post, Gee, now I'm beginning to feel like Gil, since I'm becoming the object of another sick obsession.

Bottemline on all the Gil talk, the team really needs him back to go anywhere in the playoffs. Gil is starting to itch to play because the lights are getting brighter going down the stretch and heading into the playoffs. He's feeling better but the knee's still on his mind, kind of like I used to feel when I reach down to dust those lower shelves.

But as I've read this his doctors are still qualifing any release to play. They do that alot since most have lawyers for wives or brother-in-laws. The bottemline is they will never tell Gil he's 100% ready to play, anyone that thinks they will has never torn up anything on their body that's had to be put back together in an operating room.

I the end Gil will have a decision to make, and with a whole group of guys playing at less then 100% to keep this team in it Gil may have to decide to go at less then 100% too.

But that's not a decision that any of us can make for him, or for that matter doctors or team officials or anyone else can't make the final call on when he's ready enough to play. Sometimes it comes down to a feeling in your gut, and sometimes you can be wrong and set yourself back. Or make it worse like it appears Gil did last fall by pushing it too hard too soon.

It's a tough decision and none of us have millions on the line when we're trying to make it for Gil. Well I got to go now seems there's a price check in aisle 4, and then me, I got some sweepin up to do.

88', he'll be coming along and posting anytime now, you can always bet on that!

The dude is getting a nice paycheck THIS year so if he is healed he should play as a matter of principal. He also got a nice paycheck last year to play about 60% of the season. I understand he got hurt, but this attitude he has about this season and the max contract he thinks he deserves for some reason is absolutely ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!

For one, the dude has never won anything and he does have a serious knee injury or is recovered from one. EG is stupid if he maxes this guy out sight unseen and I can't imagine him doing it. Screw Greedy Arenas!

Please, please, please...don't give me the pity party about him getting his. The dude is already set for life whether he sets foot on the court again or not. In fact, I'll take his 12 million this year and have a couple of knee surgeries to boot. I could live the rest of my life just fine after that. Boo f'ing hooo!!!!

whats up guys - haven't posted in a long time. Is anyone else annoyed at the fact that a year or two ago (can't exactly remember the time frame), Gilbert said he was willing to restructure his contract and take less money so that the team had some cap room to be able to sign quality free agents? And now he wants to opt out and eat up all our cap space? As a devoted fan, that really irks me.

Also, does anyone know the meaning of DS2's new hand gesture (that ninja-salute thing he does now)?

Rob P, nobody is pitying Gil for his $12.5m. But if you had a choice between making $12.5m for one year and making $100+m for six years, what would you do? You'd do what it takes to make that $100m. Doesn't matter how much you've made last year, doesn't matter how fair life has been to you. Pity has nothing to do with it, this is a business.

1. He is getting paid THIS year so him basing whether he should play this year on next year's contract situation is flat out WRONG! If he is recovered, he should play! Period.

2. He is partially to maybe fully responsible for the overworking of the knee that lead to the second surgery, which lead to him missing this season! I mean people in this blog were questioning the parachuting, biking, etc.... I admire the commitment and desire, but facts are facts!

3. When he was at his peak and actually playing basketball, he stated that he would not hamper a franchise and go for a max contract bc he wanted to be surrounded by a good team. I believe he may have even referenced Garnett's career in Minnesota. Guess that was a complete lie!!!!!!!!!!!

4. With 2 knee surgeries and him having really accomplished nothing but winning one first round playoff series, would you really pay him a max contract, Mr. It's a business???

5. Do you think he is ever going to be as good as he was before? I don't! I think his offense will probably suffer and his defense certainly is not going to improve. Maybe his passing will get better. Otherwise, you got a Kenyon Martin, McDyess, or Bernard King situation on your hands and you know beforehand that is what you have. Who the hell pays him max money????

6. It's actually in his best interest to show something this year! IMO, this team is just as good moving forward with Caron as the face of the franchise and resigning Jamison, with salary cap room to spare.